Cooling system and apparatus for beverage dispensers



June 8, 1937. R. J. slMARD 2,083,477

GOLIG' SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR BEVERAGE DISPENSERS Filed July 29, 1936 l' 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 "llmlwmumunml June 8, 1937. R. J. slMARD 2,083,477

COOLING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR BEVERAGE DISPENSERS Filed July 29, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 8, 1937. R. J. SIMARD 2,083,477

COOLING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR BEVERAGE DISPENSERS Filed July 29, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented June 8, 1937 UNITED STATES COOLING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR BEVERAGE DISPENSERS Rodolphe J. Simard, Lynn, Mass.

Application July 29,

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a cooling system and apparatus for beverage dispensers of the type wherein the beverage is v served from faucets mounted in a cabinet structure which is provided with a cooling compartment, and another compartment located remote from the cabinet for storing the barrelled beverages, and also a refrigerating unit for furnishing cooling liquid to said cabinet.

One of the particular objects of this invention is to provide a compact serving cabinet which is cooled by means of a refrigerating unit located remote from said cabinet, said cabinet being economically constructed and particularly arranged to support drinking glasses and bottles of beverages which are maintained in a cooled condition for ready service.

This and other objects hereinafter set forth are attained by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig.. 1 is a rear view showing in elevation an assembled apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

' Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4; and

Figs. 'I and 8 are detail views of the cooling radiator or evaporator and the iiexible connection used to connect beverage containers and the service line.

In the drawings, similar reference numerals designate like parts throughout the different iigures.

The serving cabinet of this apparatus is provided with end walls I0, a front wall II, a rear Wall I2, a top wall I3, and an intermediate wall Il. Said top wall I3 is relatively thick and is provided with suitable edge moldings I5 to form a serving counter or bar, and said intermediate wall I4 is formed of thin metal which is sufficiently strong to support a plurality of basins or compartments for purposes hereinafter set forth.

Thin metal vertical walls I6 extend down from said intermediate wall I4 to a bottom thin metal wall Il, and equally spaced from these thin walls are the thin walls I8 and I9, which follow the contour of the main thin walls, forming an air Fig. 3 is a similar sectional view taken on the 1936, Serial No. 93,284

duct A extending around the cabinet, wherein a circulation of air is maintained.

The plurality of basins or compartments comprises a wesh or rinsing basin 20 and a companion drain board 2I at one side of the cabinet. At the opposite side of the cabinet is constructed a series of bottle holders 22 and a series of small trays 23; also a compartment 24 larger in area than holders 22 and tray 23 to form an ice cube container, all of these holders, trays and basins having portions forming pockets 25 depending below the intermediate wall of shelf into the air duct A and into the path of the circulating air, whereby the contents of said pockets are cooled.

Located between the top Wall, counter or bar, and the intermediate wall I4, is provided a cooling chamber 26 for other articles to be cooled, and the same is provided with a suitable door 21 as shown in Fig. l. The top and end walls of this chamber 26 are spaced from surrounding walls 28 to form a by-pass air duct B to maintain the stems of the faucets 29 and their pipe connections cool or cold as desired. The inlet an'd outlet ends, 30 and 3l respectively, are-open to the main air duct A,'said inlet opening being provided with a scoop or funnel projection 32 to direct the circulating air into said by-pass duct B.

The beverage, such as beer, ale, or the like, is delivered to the faucets 29 by the usual pipe lines 33, one for each faucet, extending down to and connected to the delivery or storage keg 34 in the usual manner, it being understood that the usual air pressure mechanism is used (not shown) for forcing the beverage through the pipe lines. The storage kegs can be located any distance remote from the faucets, such as in the cellar or in another room in the building.

One of the features of this invention is to provide non-collapsible connections`35 in the beverage pipe lines between the storage kegs and the metallic portion of the lines. 'Ihese connections 35 are preferably constructed of rubber having a relatively small longitudinal bore. and are approximately 4 feet long. The central bores of these connections are approximately 1A,

of an inch diameter, as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings wherein is shown a full size section. These rubber connections are formed with fabric reinforcements 36 embe ed in the rubber portion and closely adjacent)` he bore thereof. This n is for the purpose of strengthening the rubber hosso that it can withstand vhigh pressures carried by the pipe lines. These. non-collapsible flexible connections also permit the storage kegs to be moved to dlirerent positions without distortion of the material oi the connection, as oftentimeshappenswiththetypenowusedwhichis' ordinarily constructed of metal. It `is also uns derstood that the usual barrel ttings Il are used to connect the lpipe lines thereto.

-Inthelower armlloftheairductAarelocated cooling coils Il for the beverage contained therein. Preferably, thesecoils are arranged in l a plurality of loops,.as shown clearly in ngel' oi the4 drawings,'and the individual coils aregau'- perposed to form e bank oi' coils, each individui coil being separated from the adjacent coils bya corrugated separated plate 4l, which not only l5 supports the pipes of the diiferent coils spaced from each other, but also forms a plurality of individual air paages throughout the length of Y the separators. f Coilsv ll are cooled by cold air from a radiator or evaporator 4i, shown in detail in Fig. 7, which consists of a series of loops extending across one of the end openings of the air duct A. Said radiator has a hood. extending around said endl opening in a manner to cover the radiator, and

said radiator Acoil has its terminals connected to a refrigerating unit of the type used in cooling systems.' whereby cold air is circulated through the radiator coil 4i. 'nie cold air is blown from the radiator through channels formed in the separator plate Il and `thence continuously around, the air duct' A, through the by-passli,v and is returned to the back oi' the hood 42 and againl forced forwardly by "a suitable motor fan 43.. lThis portionof ythe cooling apparatus is another para ticuler feature or this invention, that is, provlding a continuously extending air duct around the sidesof the cabinet, projecting the bottle holding receptacles and trays.inio this cooled air duct and placing `the beverage coils in one oi.' the legs f 40 ofsaid oir duct end forcing cold nir throughe radiator connected to a remotely situated refrigerating unit and `locating said radiator directly in front of an end opening of said main air duct. In thehollow square of the arduct A isv formed a coolingvchamber C for storing miscellaneous food and bottle goods. This chamber is accessible through the doors Il, shown clearly in Fig. 1. `l

This `cooliri'g'chamber acquires its cooling temperature through` the surrounding thin walls of the nir duct. l l

,The top wall Il is provided with an aperture- II suitablyfformed to receive and support a drain tray Il which is provided with a perforated rcover Il.v By removing this tray and cover, easy access is had to faucets and their connections which lie in the by-pass air duct.

Itwill be noted that suitable drain pipes 48 are provided for the diilerent basins and these are usually connected together to a common disicharlie nine. I

To completely insulate the cabinet,it is mounted' or seated on 'a suitable heavy insulating base u which isbuilt or luid on the flooring In lviris between the different rooms.

'5 It is thought that the operation of this device is obvious taken in connection'with both' the drawings and4 specincation. I claim: l l. In an apparatus of the'type described, a

' -0 cabinet for serving beverages or the like embodying a serving counter, an air duct extending continuously around said cabinet and embodying a lower passageway,` a series of cooling Vcoils arranged in n plurality or horizontal loopein said Y lower passageway, a refrigerating unit located remote from said cooling-coils, an evaporator coil `located at one end of 4said lower passageway and connected to said remote refrigerating unit, and

a fan located in front-ot said evaporator in a position to blow cooledair in a circulating stream l horizontal coiled loops. i 2. In an apparatus of the type described. a

through'saidcontinuous duct'and over said cabinet for serving beverages or the like embodying a serving counter, an air duct extending continuously around said cabinet and embodying a lower passageway, a series of cooling coils arranged in a plurality vot horizontal loops in said lower passageway the horizontal loops beingin'l-y evaporator in a position to blowlcooled air in a rcirculating stream through said'continuousair u duct and over said horizontal coiled loops.

s. 1n nnappsratuswof the type described, o'

cabinet for serving beverages or the like embodying aserving counter, an air duct extending continuously around said cabinet and embodyinga lower passageway, a series of cooling coils arranged in a plurality of horizontal loops in said lower passageway the horizontal loops being superposed to form banks of coiis'and each horizontal layer of coils being separated from adia-v cent coils by corrugated separator plates which form a multiplicity of air passages'underlying `each layer of coils, a refrigeratingvunit located remote from said coolingcoils, fan evaporator coil located at one end of said lower passageway and connectedto said remote reirigerating unit,

and a-fan located in iront of saidy evaporator in a position to blow cooled air in a circulatingV stream through said continuous air duct and over said horizontal coiled loops. l

4. In an` apparatus of the type described, a`

cabinet'for serving beverages or the like embodying a serving counter, an air duct extending conn tinuously around the lower portion of said cabinet. a faucet connection compartment in the upper portion oi said cabinet and having its ends connected to said air duct through by-passes to convey cold air from the main duct to and around the faucet connections, cooling coils for the beverage in the lower leg oi' said imain duct, and

means for blowing cooled airr through said main duct and over said cooling? coils.

5. In an apparatus of the, type described, a cabinet for serving beverages or the like embodying a serving counter, an air duct extending continuously around said` cabinet and embodying a lowerpassageway, a series of'cooling coils ar-` rangedl in Vla, plurality of horizontal loops insaid v lower passageway, a refrigerating unit located remote'from said cooling coils, an evaporator coil located at'one end of said lower passageway and t connected to said remote retrigerating unit, and a i'an .located in front of said evaporator in a position to blow cooled air in a circulating stream lthrough said continuous air duct and over said horizontal coiled loops, and a hood having open ends surrounding said evaporator and a fan.

RODOLPHE J. SIMARD. 

